Golf club



0ct. 9, 1934. A. E. BUHRKE Er AL 1,976,324

GOLF CLUB Filed June 13 1932 Patented Oct. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES GOLFCLUB Alfred E. Buhrke and Allen F. Heeter, Chicago, Ill.; said Heeterassignor to said Buhrke Application June 13, 1932, Serial No. 616,826

Claims.

The invention relates to a new and improved construction of golf clubsand particularly to the construction of a golf club of the type commonlyreferred to as a wood or wood clu that is, having a head made of wood oranalogous brous material having an integral shank or neck to which isattached the usual club shaft which is formed at its attaching extremityadjacent the head as a cylindrical tube that may be 10 tapered accordingto common construction of tubular, tapered metallic shafts, largely usedat the present time for the shafting of woodheaded clubs.

It is a primary object of our invention to provide an improved form ofattaching joint between the shaft and the shank of a woodheaded club.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved constructionof joint for securely and flexibly connecting the shaft of a wood-headedclub to the neck or shank of its club head in such manner as to providethe maximum strength at the initial point of union between the shaft andthe neck or shank of the club head to prevent failure of the joint andto prevent splitting of the shank or neck of the club when failure orlooseness in the joint occurs.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improved form ofconnecting device for uniting the standard style of flexible, tubular,tapered, steel shaft to the shank or neck of a wood headed club in suchmanner as to avoid a featheredge or straight taper construction on theattaching portion of the shank or neck of the club head, and otherwiseto reenforce the latter so as to prevent splitting and failure of theconnection between the shaft and the club head.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an improvedconnection between a flexible, metallic, tubular shaft and the neck orshank of a wood-headed club which will permit of a degree of torsibilityto the tubular shaft in relation to the club head without tending tosplit the reduced upper end of the neck or shank of the club head and soavoid failure of the connecting joint and damage to the club head.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the followingdescription which is directed to the preferred embodiment of theinvention hereinafter described and depicted in the draw- 5: ing whichforms a part of the specification, the

features of novelty being set forth in the appended claims.

In the said drawing:

Fig. l is an elevation view of a tapered steel shafted wood-headed clubembodying the ine@ vention and Fig. 2 is a similar view taken at rightangles to the View shown in Fig. l, a part of the steel shaftingintermediate the handle grip and the club head in each of said viewsbeing broken away.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged, longitudinal, sectional view taken on the line3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, the Viewbeing particularly designed to illustrate the detail of the connectionof the shank of the club head with the tapered steel club shaft.

Fig. 4 is a broken, transverse, sectional View on the line 4--4 of Fig.3 illustrating the manner of securing the club shaft in the body of theclub head.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation View of a portion of the tapered,tubular steel shafting provided with an attached knurled, metalliccollar adjacent the joint at the neck of the wood-headed club and theshaft, the said collar forming a part of the improved constructioncomprising our invention.

Fig. 6 is a sectional View of a tapered ferrule or adapter constructedto surround the tubular metallic shaft between the neck of the club headand the shaft, the same being arranged to closely surround and berfi-enforced and protected against longitudinal movement along the shaftby means of the metallic collar construction on the shaft illustrated inFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal, detailed, sectional view of a metallic ferruleof special construction adapted to surround and strengthen the offsetouter end in the wooden neck or shank of the club head and to co-operatewith the aforesaid parts of the joint construction or" Figs. 5 and 6respectively.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary elevation of the offset outer or upper end ofthe usual tapered neck or shank of a wood-headed club for (3o-operation100 with the other described portions of our invention.

Like parts are indicated by similar reference characters throughout theseveral views of the drawing.

The invention is particularly directed toward the provision of asatisfactory mechanical connection in a club having a head of wood oranalogous material with an integral neck, usually of taperedconstruction, which is bored interiorly 1.10

to receive a shaft and particularly a standard style of tapered, tubularsteel shaft, such a conventional type of wood head being shown in thedrawing and designated generally by the reference character 10 while theshank or neck of such head is designated by the reference character 11(Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 8). 12 designates the conventional type oi tapered,tubular steel shaft, the lower and reduced extremity of which is shownin the drawing, Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4, as being introduced through thelongitudinal bore of the neck 11 of the club which extends through thehead to the heel so that when the shaft 12 is ultimately seated in theneck and head of the club in the manner illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3,it may be locked in a secure position therein in a manner to behereinafter described.

Heretofore it has been the customary practice to insert the lower end orextremity of the shaft in the longitudinally bored neck of thewoodheaded club, the outer and upper extremity of which, according tothe usual prior practice, has been tapered to an approximate featheredgeand such joint between the outer and upper extremities between thetapered neck of the club and the shaft has been covered and attemptsmade to strengthen the joint thus formed in various ways, as by whippingor wrapping the joint between the neck of the club head and handle shaftor" the club with a strong thread of fine twine set in shellac or othercoating of adhesive material but such whipping or Wrapping becomes wornor frayed in use and becomes subject to rather rapid deterioration withthe result that the slightest loosening at the joint where the materialof the neck of the club head is brought to a substantially featheredgeresults in a tendency for the flexing of the shaft to start a split orcrack in the thinned or .outer featheredge of the neck oi the club headwhich is inclined to extend downwardly into the material of the neck andhead of the club often caus' because defective if unwarranted loosenessor.

torsional movement between shaft and club head develop.

In the use of the ordinary wood-headed club with the rather extendedmetallic, tapered, tubular shaft, there is a considerable amount oftorsibility in such shafts, especially at the lower, reduced andconsequently the weaker portion of the shaft where it is anchored in theneck and head of the wood-headed club. The shank or neck of the clubhead including the usual jointed connection extends some distance abovethe intersection of the head and the shank and since the shaft isusually pinned or otherwise rigidly secured in the body portion of thewood club head below the intersection o the head and shank, thetorsibility and flexibility of Vthe reduced lower end of the standardtubular tapered steel shaft has a tendency to be eiective in splittingthe featheredged upper terminal of the neck of the shank of the headwhether it be vprotected by the common practice of whipping or wrappingthe joint as described with a strong thread of ne twine or whether thejoint adjacent the featheredged or com'cally reduced outer extremity ofthe neck be protected with of the steel shaft to the tapered orfeatheredged;

Ybe driven is normally off the axial line of the shaft so that eachnormal stroke tends to impart atorsional or ilexing strain upon the headin relation to the shaft and we have determined by experiment that theapparent ideal construction of joint between the club head and the shaftis one that will provide a swivel type of joint connection that willpermit a certain degree of torsional or flexing movement between theclub head and the shaft as a normal and desirable feature of theconnection between the head and shaft and of a character which will nothave any tendency to split the outer and somewhat necessarily reducedend of the neck or shank of the head.

To that end and in carrying out the principles of our invention, weespecially prepare the usual tapering neck and shank of the head 11 in amanner to avoid a straight tapered or featheredged terminal at the outerand upper extremity of the head shank 11 in the manner shown in Figs. 3and 8 and from which it will be seen that around the axial bore 13 ofthe shank l1, the material of the wood head is first turned down to givea portion thereof a cylindrical form as indicated at 14 therebyproviding an odset or shoulder l5 of such depth as illustrated that whentaken into consideration with the wall of the cylindrical reducedportion 14 it will have the eiect of checking any split that might havea tendency to develop in the cylini drical reduced portion 14 fromfurther extending into the neck 11 of the body of the club head. Theouter terminal of the neck or shank of the club head is further reducedin diameter to provide the relatively thin cylindrical portion 16terminating in the substantial shoulder 17 so that any split that mighthave a tendency to develop in the portion 16 may also be effectivelystopped at the shoulder 17 and not extend into the body of thecylindrical portion 14 of the neck. For cooperating with the outerextremity of the shank thus formed, we provide a specially formedstrong, substantially non-expansible ferrule preferably of metal asdesignated generally by the reference character 18 (Figs. 1 to 3inclusive and Fig. '1). This ierrule 18 is provided with an internalbore 1Q (Fig. 7) adapted for a close drive nt with the cylindricalreduced neck portion 14 of the club head shank.

For practical purposes, in order to give the ferrule 18 the maximumdegree of strength which is desirable when the parts are assemble( asillustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, ferrule 18 may be constructed ofan integral piece of suitable metal as, for example, aluminum or alloysof copper and the like but we prefer, for ornamental'purposes, toconstruct the ferrule 18 of aluminum with a substantiallycylindricalbore as illustrated in Fig. 'l consistingr of the beforedescribed cylindrical axial bore 1S designed to be co-extensive with andto protect thev cylindrical, reduced portion 14 in the neck ofthe clubhead shank, there being an inwardly extending contracted peripheralportion designed to form a shoulder to engage the before mentionedshoulder 17 of the shank neck; and spaced above the peripherallycontracted portion 2i) another similarly contracted, inwardly extending,peripheral ring 21, the spaced, contracted portions thereby forming theintermediate peripheral groove 22 of substantially the same diameter asthe bore 19.

Above the inwardly contracted, peripheral portion 2i is enlargedperipheral offset portion at the upper ter inus of the ferrule forming aseat as designated by the reference character 23 thus producing aperipheral socket 24 designed to furnish a seat for rotatably orswivelly supporting the peripherally reduced lower extremity 26 of anornamental iinishing sleeve or adapter of tapered form shown in detailin Figs. 3 and 6 and designated generally by the reference character 25.

The adapter sleeve 25, which is somewhat elongated as illustrated and istapered, is provided with an internal bore 27 so as to have a close ordrive rit around the tapered lower end of the club shaft 12 and while itis highly desirable that this adapter sleeve be of relatively strongmaterial as of integral metal such as aluminum or copper alloys and thelike, We, however, prefer to utilize some common character ofornamental, lighter material as of celluioid or pyroxylin, suitablyre-enforced at its lower end by an internally seated metallic banddesignated by the reference character 28 shown Fig. 5 as disassociatedfrom its normal seat in the slightly enlarged lower end 29 of theadapter, this metallic sleeve 28 being formed of externally kiurled orroughened band, as illustrated, of aluminum or other relatively strongmetal or other strong material so that when the adapter with the band 23secured thereto is inserted upon the shaft it may become affixed theretofor all practical purposes by reason of the drive nt produced due to thenormal taper in the extremity of the shaft 12 thus pmventing anytendency of the adapter 25 to slide upwardly of the shaft out of itsnormal position illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive which wouldotherwise tend to cause the lower projecting peripheral ilange 26 withthe adjacent enlarged shoulder portion 39 to back away from the swiveljoint at the upper end of the ferrule 18 in use and thus avoidpresenting an open and unsightly joint.

rEhe of assembly of the parte of our ved joint described and its mode ofis substantially as follows:

i5 and 18 producing the hollow reed, cylindrical portions 14 and 16, themetalferrule 18 is slipped over the respective reed portions 16 and lewhen the shaft with in position with the metallic understood 'that theferrule 18 will be formed so to be a very close or substantially drivelit ad the outer extremity of the neck of the clu. when seated firmly.upon the shoulders 1.5 and l?, respectively, thetapered lower -Y tremitymetallic shaft 12 is ready for inmrtion in 1-o longitudinal bore throughthe eck of the club head. The shaft "nay be tapered throughout rfrom thehandle porti i toward the lower extremity therein a uniform manneraccording to common construction but icr utilizing our invention to thefullest extent, it is only necessary that the lower portion of the shaftfrom the head ex tending well above the part intended to be covered bythe adapter 25 shall be tapered.

The adapter 25 with its re-enforoing metallic band 28 having been seatedupon the shaft 12, the lower extremity of the latter may then beintroduced through the bore of the neck and the joint will besatisfactorily completed and assembled by positively and firmly drivingthe shaft 12 downwardly into the club head with the result that theuniform taper of the shaft 12 will cause the metallic re-enforcedferrule adapter 25 to become substantially affixed to the shaft so thatthe peripheral extension 25 at the lower end will enter the socket 2eupon the upper terminus of the metallic ferrule 18.

Furthermore, the downward forced progress of the tapered shaft 12 willexert an outwardly wedging effect upon the parts of the joint and theneck or shank of the head with which it contacts and if the parts beproperly proportioned and formed with reference to the normal taper ofthe shaft in the manner substantially as illustrated in the drawing, astrong and secure joint will be formed by the forced assemblage of theparts and the relation of the various parts may be made substantially asrm and tight as desired by force imparted in driving the tapered shaftinto the head of the club.

An important feature of the invention is to be found in the provision ofthe special contracted port-ions 2f), 21 of the metallic ferrule withthe peripheral groove 22 therebetween in that, as will be apparent froman inspection of the relative locations of the assembled parts in Fig.3, the downward wedging progress of the tapered shaft will have atendency to force the thinned upper cylindrical portion 16 outwardly andinto the groove 22 while the same wedgng action of the shaft willslightly expand without splitting the cylindrical portion 14 so that themetallic ferrule 18 will be firmly seated and held in its position bythe downward progress and Wedging action of the tapered shaft which asthe parts are thus brought rmly together in their relative positions toform the joint, may then be anchored firmly in the head of the club inthe usual or any desired manner as by means of a transverse screw ofslightly conical formation at its front end to comperato with thematerial of the club head after passing through suitable registeringperforations in the shaft that may be drilled therein by a suitable toolat the time the opening for the screw 35 is made in the material of theclub head.

Gbviously the shaft 12 may be locked in a non-rotatable position withrespect to the club head by other means and when this is done the lowerend of the shaft may be out off and ground to a nish and the lower endthereof plugged by any suitable means as illustrated at 37. When theshaft is thus locked to the club head it will be seen that any tendencyof the tubular shaft to taire a twist between the joint and the point ofits rigid connection with the club head will be without any tendencytoward disrupting the joint or splitting the upper end of the shank ofthe club head for the reason that the seat of the metallic reinforcedadapter ferrule 25 in the peripheral socket 24 in the upper end of thekmetallic reenforced ferrule 18 permits of the necessary relative rotarymovements or swiveling movements of the parts so that the reduced lowerend of the tubular shaft 12 above the locking pin or screw may be freeto yield to any flexing and torsional strains within its ordinaryelastic limits without tearing, disrupting or splitting the material inthe shank 11 of the club head. Furthermore, the described constructionis such that if any cracks or checks should develop in the thinnedabruptly shouldered portions 14, 16 of the shank of the club head,extension of the same into and damage to the shank and head of the cluband resulting failure of the joint will be eiectually prevented by theabruptly shouldered portions 15 and 17. Repeated tests have shown thatour improved construction results in a joint of a character so strongand durable that failure due to excessive shocks and strains willordinarily take place in the material of the club head or of the tubularsteel shaft before the described elements of the joint may be loosenedor disrupted.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated and described, theferrule 18, the body portion of which is constructed perferably of metalas aluminum, will, for ornamental purposes preferably be turned down orreduced in diameter over the major part of its outer periphery leaving ametallic peripheral surface Si that may be exposed when the parts areassembled and the remainder and reduced portion of the body of theferrule 18 covered by a suitable colored material for ornamentalpurposes as celluloid or pyroxylin as illustrated by the covering 32(Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 7) or the whole or part of the ou er portion of theferrule 18 may be otherwise ornamented by the use of a suitable enameland the like.

In the foregoing description of our invention we have referredparticularly to the specific ernbodimcnt depicted in the drawing inwhich our invention is shown applied to a club of the driver, brassieand spoon type, in which the head and neck portions are commonly formedof Wood although the invention is to be understood as applying to clubsof the described type in which the head and shank portions are made ofother suitable materials as hardened rubber or other compositions asbakelite, pyroxylin, celluloid and the like or even various metallicsubstances as equivalents for wood or ber compositions.

Our invention may also be applied to the attachment of various types ofshafts to the necks or Shanks of club heads of the aforesaid type asidefrom the common tubular, tapered, metallic shafts, as, for example,shafts of wood, metal or other strong, flexible materials that may notbe of tubular form and even may be without taper in the attachingportions of such shafts if suitable provision be made as well understoodby those skilled in the al't for affixing the upper portion of ourimproved swivel connection to such shafts.

Furthermore, the novel portions of our iinproved club head and shaftconnector may be made of Various strong and lightv materials asequivalents of the metal parts herein described, and such exposed partsmay be variously finished, as by polishing exposed parts, or by coveringthem with suitable finishing and ornamenting materials as lacquers,paints or varnishes or outer finishing coverings of Celluloid, pyroxylinand the like,

In order that the invention might be fully understood we have set forthin detail the preferred embodiment thereof, but it is not desired to belimited to the details except as defined by the claims for it will beapparent that persons skilled in the art may resort to variousmodifications without departing from the purpose and spirit of ourinvention.

We claim:

1. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, therebeing a tapered shaft bore extending through the said neck and into theclub head, the outer extremity of the said tapered neck or shank beingturned down to form a substantially cylindrical extension therebyforming an abrupt angular shoulder at the upper extremity of thetapering portion of the neck or shank, a metallic ferrule havingv aninner cylindrical bore adapted to be seated upon the said upwardlyextending cylindrical portion of the shank or neck of the club head, asecond ferrule affixed to the said metallic shaft, there beingcci-operating, peripheral socketed and projecting portions respectivelyarranged on the said ferrules and adapted to engage each other to haverelative rotative movement in abutting relation with respect to eachother whereby the said metallic shaft may be free for torsionaldistortion within the neck and shank of the club above the point ofrigid securement of the shaft thereto to prevent distortion of the outerextremity of the neck o1' shank of the head.

2. The combination in a golf club of the wood type, of a club headhaving an integral elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, therebeing a tapered shaft bore extending through said neck and into the clubhead, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaft adapted to be seated in saidtapered shaft bore, means for locking said shaft to the body portion ofthe club head whereby to prevent relative rotative movements of theshaft in relation to the body portion of the club head, the neck orshank of the club head beyond the said outwardly tapering portionthereof being turned down to a cylindrical form to produce an angularshoulder at the outer terminus of the neck or shank, a metallic ferruleadapted to have a drive fit around the cylindrical reduced terminalportion of the neck or shank, there being a peripheral socket in theouter extremity thereof, a second ferrule secured to rotate with thesaid shaft and being provided around its lower extremity with aperipheral projection adapted to engage in abutting relation with thesocketed outer extremity of the first said ferrule whereby to provide aswivel joint between the said ferrules and thereby to permit torsionaldistortion in the body of the shaft within the neck of the club abovethe said club head locking means and thereby to avoid distortion andinjury to the joint between the shaft and neck or shank of the clubhead.

3. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral,

elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, the

outer extremity of the said tapering neck or shank being turned down tocylindrical form whereby to produce two spaced-apart shoulders, therebeing a tapering shaft bore extending through said neck and said outercylindrical within thebody portion of the club head remote from the neckor shank thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outerextremity of the neck or shank portions of the club head prepared asdescribed and said shaft comprising a metallic ferrule attached to thesaid neck or shank around the cylindrical reduced portion at the outerend of the neck or shank, the said ferrule being seated thereupon with adrive fit and extending above the said cylindrical reduced portionsbeyond the tapered portion of the neck or shank of the club head, therebeing a periphu eral socket arranged at the outer extremity of the saidferrule beyond the outer extremity of the more reduced cylindricalportion of the neck or shank, and a second ferrule Xed in relation tothe shaft and being provided atk itsl lower extremity with a peripheraldepending portion adapted to enter the peripheral socketed portion ofthe first said ferrule, both said ferrules being formed to taperoutwardly from the shouldered outer extremity of the integral taperedneck or shank of the club head whereby to form a finishing joint and topermit relative rotation of the club shaft within the neck or shank ofthe club head above its point of xed securement thereto whereby toprevent distortion or injury to the joint between the shaft and the neckor shank of the club head.

Il. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, thesaid outwardly tapering neck or shank being formed beyond its outerextremity with a plurality of cylindrical portions of gradually reduceddiameters thereby forming peripheral shoulders, there being a taperedshaft bore extending through the said cylindrical reduced portions ofsaid neck and into the-club head, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaftadapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking thesaid shaft against rotation in relation to the body portion of the clubhead remote from the neck or shank portion thereof, and means forforming a joint between the outer extremity of the neck or shank of theclub head and said shaft comprising an ornamental, metallic ferrulehaving a drive fit around the said cylindrical reduced portions on theextremity of the neck or shaft, there being a peripheral socket in the'upper extremity of said ferrule and a peripheral under-cut groovewithin the ferrule whereby, when the said parts for joining the head andshank or neck of the club head re in assembled relation, the saidmetallic ferrule may be rmly aflixed to the outer cylindrical reducedportions of the neck cr shank of the club head by the expansive actionof the hollow, metallic, tapered shaft, a second ferrule fixed to thesaid shaft and adapted to have abutting, rotative relation with respectto the first said metallic ferrule on the neck or shank of the club headand the socket in the upper extremity thereof whereby to permittorsional distortion of the said hollow, metallic, tapered shaft withinthe neck or shank of the club head and above the point of securement ofthe shaft to the club head to avoid injury to the joint between theshaft and the club head without interfering with the normal, maximumtorsional resiliency of the said shaft.

5. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck or shank, the saidneck or shank at its outer terminal portion being turned down to providetwo cylindrical portions, there being a tapered shaft bore eX- tendingthrough said reduced cylindrical portions and through said head neck orshank and into the club head, a hollow, metallic, tapered shaft adaptedto be seated in said. tapered shaft bore, means for loclnng shaftagainst rotation in relation to the body portion of the club head remoteiroin the or shank thereof, and means for forming a swivel joint betweenthe outer extremity of the neck. or shank of the club head and saidshaft comprising a metallic ferrule adapted to have a close rit aroundthe cylindrical reduced portion adjacent the upper err emity of thetapered or shank and bei b an under-cut interior groove adapted toco--operate with the cuter red ced cylindrical portion whereby to engagethe said cylindrical portions above 'the neck or shank of the club headwith a drive t due to the expansive action oi the hollow, metallic,tapered shaft when driven to its seat in the club head, and a secondfel-rule ed to the hollow metallic tapered shaft in abutting relation tothe outer extremity of the 'first id ferrule whereby to have rotativerelation with respect to the first said ferrule nd the eck or shank ofthe club head to which. it is attached when torsional distortion withinits elastic limits is imparted to the said hollow, metallic, tapered,shaft above the point of its fixed relation with the clubrhead therebyto avoid u ous torsional distortion within the neck s' ank of the clubhead, the said ferrules being tapered to form a finished extension ofthe outer tapered neck or shank of the clubhead in relation to saidshaft,

6. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck there being atapered shaft bore extending through the said neck and into the clubhead, the outer extremity of the said tapered. neck or shank beingturneddown to form a subelantially cylindrical ertensionthereby f` rling abrupt angular shoulder at the upper extremity of the tapered ionof the ne s. or shank, metallic ferrule having an inner cylindrical boreadapted to bevseated upon the said upwardly extending cylindricalportion of the or neck oil the club head, a second ferrule iixed to thesaid shaft, there being coop^' 'i peripheral socketed and project J `nsrespectively arn ranged on the said fei'rules and adapted to engage eachother to relative rotative movement in abutting relation with respect toeach other whereby the said shaft may be free for torsional or flexuraldistortion within the nec and shaft of the club above the point of rigidsecurement of t -e shaft thereto to prevent distortion of the outerextremity of the neck or shank of the head.

7. The combination in a golf club of the wood type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, therebeing a tapered shait bore extending through said neck and into the clubhead, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means forlocking said shaft to the body portion of the club head whereby toprevent relative rotative movements of the shaft in relation to the bodyportion of the club head, the neck or shank of the club head beyond thesaid outwardly tapering portion thereof being turned down to acylindrical form to produce an angular shoulder at the outer terminus ofthe neck or shank, a metallic ferrule adapted to have a ILUG drive fitaround the cylindrical reduced terminal portion of the neck or shank,there being a peripheral socket in the outer extremity thereof, a secondferrule secured to rotate with the said shaft, and being provided aroundits lower extremity with a peripheral projection adapted to engage inabutting relation with the socketed outer extremity of the first saidferrule whereby to provide a swivel joint between the said ferrules andthereby to permit torsional distortion in the body of the shaft withinthe neck of the club above the said club head locking means and therebyto avoid distortion and injury to the joint between the shaft and neckor shank of the club head.

8. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, eiongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, theouter extremity of the said tapering neck or sha-nk being turned down tocylindrical form whereby to produce two spaced-apart shoulders, therebeing a tapering shaft bore extending through said neck and said outercylindrical reduced portions, and into said club head, a shaft adaptedto be seated in said tapered shaft bore, means for locking the saidlower end of the shaft within the body portion of the club head remotefrom the neck or shank thereof, and means for forming a joint betweenthe outer extremity of the neck or shank portions of the club headprepared as described and said shaft comprising a ferrule attached tothe said neck or shank around the cylindrical reduced portion at theouter end of the neck or shank, the said ferrule being seated thereuponwith a drive t and extending above the said cylindrical reduced portionsbeyond the tapered portion of the neck or shank of the club head, therebeing a peripheral socket arranged at the outer extremity of the saidferrule beyond the outer extremity of the more reduced cylindricalportion of the neck or shank, and a second ferrule fixed in relation tothe shaft and being provided at its lower extremity with a peripheraldepending portion adapted to enter the peripheral socketed portion ofthe first said ferrule, both said ferrules being formed to taperoutwardly from the shouldered outer extremity of the integral taperedneck or shank of the club head whereby to form a finishing joint and topermit relative rotation of the club shaft within the neck or shank ofthe club head above its point of fixed securement theretov whereby toprevent distortion or injury to the joint between the shaft and the neckor shank of the club head.

9. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapering neck or shank, thesaid outwardly tapering neck or shank being formed beyond its outerextremity with a plurality of cylindrical portions of gradually reduceddiameters thereby forming peripheral shoulders, there being a taperedshaft bore extending through the said cylindrical reduced portions ofsaid neck and into the club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in saidtapered shaft bore, means for locking the said shaft against rotation inrelation to the body portion of the club head remote from the neck orshank portion thereof, and means for forming a joint between the outeiextremity of the neck or shank of the club head and said shaftcomprising an ornamental ferrule having a drive iit around the saidcylindrical reduced portions on the extremity of the neck or shank,there being a peripheral socket in the upper extremity of said ferruleand a peripheral under-cut groove within the ferrule whereby, when thesaid parts for joining the head and shank or neck of the club head arein assembled relation, the said metallic ferrule may be rmly aixed tothe outer cylindrical reduced portions of the neck or shank of the clubhead by the expansive action of the shaft, a second ferrule fixed to thesaid shaft and adapted to have abutting, rotative relation with respectto the rst said metallic ferrule on the neck or shank of the club headand the socket in the upper extremity thereof whereby to permittorsional or iiexural distortion of the said shaft within the neck orshank of the club head and above the point of securement of the shaft tothe club head to avoid injury to the joint between the shaft and theclub head without interferring with the normal, maximum torsionalresiliency of the said shaft.

10. The combination in a golf club of the wood head type, of a club headhaving an integral, elongated, outwardly tapered neck or shank, the saidneck or shank at its outer terminal portion being turned down to providecylindrical portion, there being a tapered shaft bore extending throughsaid reduced cylindrical portion and through said head neck or shank andinto the club head, a shaft adapted to be seated in said tapered shaftbore, means for locking said shaft against rotation in relation to thebody portion of the club head remote from the neck or shank thereof, andmeans for forming a swivel joint between the outer extremity of the neckor shank of the club head and said shaft comprising a metallic ferruleadapted to have a close fit around the cylindrical reduced portionadjacent the upper extremity of the tapered neck or shank and beingprovided with an under-cut interior groove adapted to co-operate withthe outer reduced cylindrical portion whereby to engage the saidcylindrical portion above the neck or shank of the club head with adrive iit due to the expansive action of the said shaft when driven toits seat in the club head, and a second ferrule affixed to the shaft inabutting relation to the outer extremity of the first said ferrulewhereby to have rotative relation with respect to the first said ferruleand the neck or shank of the club head to which it is attached whentorsional and flexural distortion within its elastic limits is impartedto the said shaft above the point of its liked relation with the clubhead thereby to avoid injurious distortion within the neck or shank ofthe club head, the said ferrules being tapered to form a finishedextension of the outer tapered neck or shank of the club head inrelation to said shaft.

ALFRED E. BUHRKE. ALLEN F. HEETER.

